Two-Way Knowledge Transfer in Nineteenth Century China: The Scottish Missionary-Sinologist Alexander Wylie (1815-1887)

This book is a biography of a remarkable Scottish missionary worker, Alexander Wylie, who made significant contributions to knowledge transfer to and from China through his work as a printer, teacher, and writer.

Format: Hardback
Length: 228 pages
Publication date: 18 November 2022
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This captivating biography delves into the remarkable life of Alexander Wylie, a remarkable Scottish missionary worker who lived in the classical nineteenth century. Wylie was a classical artisan and autodidact with a profound gift and passion for languages and mathematics. His contributions to knowledge transfer, both to and from China, were truly extraordinary.

In his missionary work, Wylie played a pivotal role as a printer. He was instrumental in the production and distribution of a new Chinese translation of the Bible, which had a profound impact on the spread of Christianity in China. His expertise in printing and typography allowed him to produce high-quality books that were widely read and cherished by the Chinese population.

As a teacher, Wylie translated into Chinese key western texts in science and mathematics, including Newton and Euclid. His translations not only helped to advance the understanding of these subjects in China but also contributed to the development of Chinese mathematics and science. Wylie published the first Chinese textbooks on modern symbolic algebra, calculus, and astronomy, which were instrumental in shaping the education of Chinese students in these fields.

In addition to his work as a missionary and teacher, Wylie was a prolific writer in English. He was an internationally recognized major sinologist, bringing to the West a wealth of knowledge about China. His writings on Chinese history, culture, and language were widely read and respected, and they contributed significantly to the development of British sinology.

The book concludes with an overall evaluation of Wylie's contribution to knowledge transfer to and from China. It highlights the imbalance between the significant corpus of scholarly work specifically on Wylie by Chinese scholars in Chinese and the lack of academic studies by western scholars in English. This imbalance reflects the historical and cultural context in which Wylie worked, as well as the evolving nature of scholarship and research in different regions.

Despite this imbalance, Wylie's legacy as a missionary worker, teacher, and writer continues to inspire and influence scholars and researchers around the world. His passion for languages, mathematics, and China, combined with his dedication to knowledge transfer, has left a lasting impact on the field of study.

In conclusion, this book is a must-read for anyone interested in the history, culture, and contributions of Alexander Wylie to knowledge transfer between China and the West. Wylie's life and work demonstrate the power of human curiosity, dedication, and passion to bridge cultural gaps and advance knowledge for the benefit of society.

Weight: 610g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367722456